Marion County Contempt & Enforcement Attorneys

Hire Gavvl for your Marion County contempt case

Flat-fee and full-representation options: we handle the filings, the Marion County local forms, the court strategy, and the hearings — and you know the price before we start.

Start with a $25 consultation and talk through your options with an Ohio family-law attorney before you commit to anything. Get started online or see payment plans & financing.

Enforce your Marion County order with Gavvl Law

When the other parent ignores a Marion County custody, parenting-time, or support order, a motion for contempt asks the Family Division to make them comply — but in Marion, civil contempt requires a summons served on the other party under R.C. 2705.031(C) (Local Rule 6). A bare motion without proper service will not support a finding. Gavvl Law files the motion, arranges the summons, and represents you at the hearing on one flat fee agreed before we start, with payment plans available.

• Service done the way contempt requires. The step most self-filers miss is the R.C. 2705.031(C) summons — without it, the court cannot hold anyone in contempt no matter how clear the violation. We file the Motion for Contempt (Form 24 / JF 3) with the Show Cause Order (Form 25 / JF 4) and get the summons served properly.
• A record built for purge and sanctions. Contempt hearings turn on specific, documented violations. We organize the dates, records, and missed exchanges or payments so the court can set purge conditions and sanctions, rather than sending everyone home to try again.
• Support enforcement with real teeth. When unpaid support is the problem, we pair contempt with the Request to Issue Wage Assignment (Form H) so future payments are withheld from pay, and coordinate with the CSEA to collect what is already owed.

If your case has gone dormant, Marion charges $210 to reactivate it before a contempt motion moves, and hearing notices only reach you if your address is current — so we file the Duty to Keep Court Advised of Address (Form G) at the outset. A fee waiver is available if the deposit is out of reach.

Flat-fee options

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the motion for contempt / show cause to enforce an order the other party is violating. You appear at any hearing.

• Contempt (single issue): $950
• Contempt (multiple issues): $1,450

Prefer full representation? An Ohio attorney can carry the entire case on a $3,500 retainer.

Split any flat fee with Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan at 19% APR, $500 minimum — on a 60%-down schedule of 18 weekly, 8 bi-weekly, or 4 monthly payments, or full financing where work begins once 60% is paid. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay.

Start your contempt case or see payment plans & financing.

Where to File: Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division

A contempt motion fits if…

• There is a clear, existing court order the other party is violating.
• The other party is withholding parenting time or refusing to follow the parenting schedule.
• Child support or another financial obligation is not being paid as ordered.
• You are prepared to have a summons served under R.C. 2705.031(C), not just file a motion.
• You can document the specific violations for the hearing.

Filing Fees

$210 reactivation if dormant (Rule 3) · confirm any motion deposit with the Clerk · fee waiver available

Forms & Filing Packets

How to File Post-Decree Contempt in Marion County

1. Document the violations. Gather dates, records, and proof of how the order is being violated.
2. File the contempt motion. File the Motion for Contempt (Form 24 / JF 3) and Show Cause Order (Form 25 / JF 4) in the original case.
3. Have a summons served. Arrange service of a summons on the other party under R.C. 2705.031(C) — this is required for contempt.
4. Prepare for the hearing. Bring your evidence of the violations to the contempt hearing.
5. Seek purge and sanctions. Ask the court for purge conditions and sanctions; pair support contempt with wage withholding (Form H).

Marion County Practice Notes

• A summons is required. Civil contempt to enforce an order of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division requires a summons served on the alleged contemnor under R.C. 2705.031(C) (Local Rule 6). A motion alone, without proper service, will not support a contempt finding.
• Keep your address current. File the Duty to Keep Court Advised of Address (Form G) so hearing notices and orders reach you while the contempt case is pending.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ex won't follow the order — how do I enforce it in Marion County?

File a motion for contempt in the original case. Civil contempt to enforce a court order requires a summons served on the other party under R.C. 2705.031(C) (Local Rule 6) — a bare motion without proper service will not support a contempt finding. The court then holds a hearing and can set purge conditions and sanctions.

What do I need to file to change child support in Marion County?

A support-modification motion must include Affidavits 1, 3, and 4 (Marion Forms A, C, and D), your most recent W-2, your last 6 pay stubs, and 3 years of overtime/bonus history (Local Rule 6). Incomplete filings are routinely rejected or delayed — assemble the full Rule 6 packet before filing.

Is a parenting class required for cases with children in Marion County?

Yes. Under Marion F.C. Rule 12, each parent in a case involving children completes the Divorcing/Separated Parent Education Program — an approved online course finished within 60 days of the Form I notice. Listed provider fees range from $38.00 to $61.95, paid directly to the provider (it is not a court fee). You must file your Certificate of Completion with the Family Court Clerk.

What if I can't afford the filing fee in Marion County?

File the Civil Fee Waiver (Request Filing Fee to be Waived) — an Affidavit of Poverty under R.C. 2323.30 — with your complaint or petition. If granted, the court waives the deposit. The Family Court can also help confirm what financial documentation it needs.

Free Local Resources in Marion County

• Marion County Family Division — Court Forms. The Family Division of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas hears all divorce, dissolution, legal separation, annulment, custody, support, and protection-order matters at 222 W. Center St., Marion, OH 43302. Download the county lettered forms (Form A–N) and confirm current deposits before filing. Court (740) 223-4060; Clerk (740) 223-4070. Forms: https://www.co.marion.oh.us/elected_offices/common_pleas_court_family_division/family_court_forms/juvenile_domestic_forms.php
• Marion County Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). A division of Marion County Job & Family Services at 363 W. Fairground St., Marion, OH 43302. The CSEA establishes paternity and establishes, enforces, and collects child support; it cannot grant or change custody or parenting time. Call (740) 387-6688 or (800) 960-5437. Review & Adjust and other support help: https://mcjfs.com/child-support/
• Divorcing/Separated Parent Education Program (Rule 12). Each parent in a case involving children completes a court-approved online parenting course within 60 days of the Form I notice and files the Certificate of Completion with the Family Court Clerk. Approved providers listed on Form I charge $38.00–$61.95, paid directly to the provider (not a court fee).
• Ohio Child Support Guideline Calculator. The official statewide calculator that applies Ohio's 2024 Income Shares Model. Run it, print the worksheet, and file it any time the court sets or changes support: https://ohiochildsupportcalculator.ohio.gov/

Other Family-Law Topics in Marion County

• Statewide Divorce Overview — How divorce works across Ohio at a high level.
• Statewide Custody Overview — How Ohio custody and parenting time work at a high level.
• Talk to a Family Law Attorney — Connect with a Marion County family law attorney for help with your case.

Related to your contempt case

• Post-Decree Modification — Update custody, support, or parenting orders after your case ends.
• Child Support — Calculate, establish, or modify support under Ohio's guidelines.
• Spousal Support — Pursue or respond to alimony requests during and after divorce.

Related guides

In-depth, attorney-written guides on contempt and related Ohio family law topics.

• Contempt Motions in Ohio Family Court: Enforcing Your Order — When the other parent ignores a court order — withholding the children or refusing to pay support — a contempt motion is how Ohio courts enforce it. Here's how the process works.
• Post-Decree Modifications in Ohio: Changing Your Order After Divorce — Your divorce decree isn't carved in stone. When life changes, Ohio lets you modify custody, parenting time, and support — but each requires meeting a specific legal standard. Here's how.

Keep exploring Marion County family law

• Ohio Post-Decree Contempt guide — Statewide overview of post-decree contempt in Ohio.
• Columbus family law — Local attorneys and courts serving the Columbus metro.
• Marion County family law guide — Court info, local filing notes, FAQs, and the downloadable Marion County guide.
• Meet Stephanie Green — Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Gavvl Law.
• Payment plans & financing — Flat fees with Gavvl Direct, Affirm, Klarna, or PayPal Pay Later.